Upcoming DOE Public Workshop on “New Opportunities and Challenges in U.S. Energy Security”

May 2, 2016

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On May 13th, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Policy and Systems Analysis (EPSA) is hosting a public workshop on “New Opportunities and Challenges in U.S. Energy Security.” This workshop is intended to support the implementation of the 2015 Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act (Public Law 114-94).

The FAST Act directs the Department to produce a study that:

Evaluates U.S. and U.S. allies’ energy security needs;

Identifies procedures and criteria to ensure that energy-related actions are evaluated with respect to their impact on energy security; and

Provides an implementation strategy for the recommended procedures.

The public workshop is designed to support these study goals, as we hear from experts and gather stakeholder feedback on the meaning of energy security in a 21st century context, given record levels of U.S. fossil fuel and renewable production, ongoing changes to the U.S. electricity fuel mix and grid, and shifting geopolitical alignments related to energy development and provision. The workshop will include a mixture of panel discussions and an open comment/Q&A period.

AGENDA

9:00 – 9:15 Welcome and Introduction

9:15 – 10:45 Panel 1: U.S. Oil and Gas Security in a Time of Relative Abundance

The US oil and gas security picture has changed dramatically in the past decade, as domestic production of both fuels has soared, the share of oil imports has dropped, and the U.S. is poised to be a net exporter of natural gas. For different reasons, U.S. oil and gas producers now face a low price environment and demand changes increasingly driven by policy, and both oil and gas producers face challenges in siting and protecting infrastructure. Meanwhile, many other countries, including a number of close U.S. allies, continue to struggle with the intersection of oil and gas supplies and geopolitical concerns. Other countries—including a number that have historically had challenging relationships with the U.S.—are finding a new place in the energy geopolitical balance as the U.S. role shifts. And even in a time of relative abundance, a significant supply or price disruption is still feasible. What are today’s oil and gas security challenges for both the U.S. and other key allies, and what policy solutions are most relevant to address those challenges?

10:45 – 11:00 Break

11:00 – 12:30 Panel 2: U.S. Electricity Security with a 21st Century Fuel Mix and Grid

The U.S. electricity sector is undergoing dramatic change to its fuel mix driven by both price environments and policy, leading to new pressures on the traditional centralized grid model/infrastructure—and with increased reliance on electricity as a transportation fuel, U.S. electricity dependence will grow. New cybersecurity risks have also arisen as grid operations have become more complex and “smarter.” How much do these factors—or other concerns such as solar flares electromagnetic pulses, or kinetic attacks—affect electricity reliability? How should private actors balance and prioritize these risks against other more immediate challenges to reliability, such as weather and other natural hazards? What policies should the U.S. be considering to further protect the reliability of electricity supply as the sector becomes increasingly decarbonized?

At least 30 minutes will be available at the end of each panel for questions from the audience and open microphone.